Magnitude-5.9 quake hits eastern Japan, injures over 20, no tsunami warning
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck southern Ibaraki early Sunday, injuring 23 people across four prefectures, while authorities reported no tsunami risk.
A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck eastern Japan early Sunday, with the epicenter located in southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of about 70 km. The tremor was felt in the Tokyo metropolitan area and surrounding regions, but no tsunami warning was issued.
Prefectural officials said 23 people were injured – nine each in Saitama and Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki. Most injuries resulted from falls or collisions with furniture as residents were awakened by the shaking. An 80-year-old woman in Yokohama suffered a serious hip injury after falling from her bed.
"We set up a task force to assess the extent of possible damage," Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote on X.
A 23-year-old shopper in Tokyo’s Taito district described feeling a sudden vertical jolt seconds after an earthquake alert sounded, fearing that merchandise might fall from shelves.
Rail services were disrupted: express trains to Narita Airport and local lines in the northeast experienced delays, while Shinkansen bullet trains continued to run on schedule, according to East Japan Railway Co. An underground water pipe in Koto ward ruptured, spilling water onto a road before being repaired.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no irregularities at any of the country’s nuclear facilities.